tightening

/ˈtaɪtənɪŋ/
noun
  1. The act or process of making something tighter or stricter.
    • The tightening of the screws made the shelf more stable.
    • There has been a tightening of security at the airport.
    • The government announced a tightening of pollution rules.
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Becoming tighter or more restricted.
    • She felt a tightening sensation in her chest.
    • Tightening budgets forced the school to cut programs.
    • The tightening rope began to fray.